The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 20, 1939, Page 12

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20, 1939. Christmas Edition of The Daily Alaska Empire—Juneaun Christmas \Lul @ Uncle Sam has a big job | this Christmas even de- livers Santa’s mail! he Last year's Holiday mail was the biggest ever handled by the United States postoffice, and this year's will probably be big- ger. Cards, childish letters to Santa Claus, carelessly wrapped and addressed packages and the always-present human elentent of waiting until the last minute complicate the job. First mail to be handled each year is that for foreign countries, above being placed aboard a transatlantic liner. Such pack- ages must be mailed early. 4 ] Towns bearing Christmasy names like Santa Claus. Bethle- hem, Nazareth and Christmas (they're real towns, too) always have a landoffice business in re- mailing cards and packages for- warded from all parts of the country. Above, at Bethlehem, Conn., Postmaster Earl S. Jokn- son stamps the special postmarlk used last year. It is the shape of a Christmas tree with the words, “Greetings from the Little Town of Bethlehem.” He handles about 80,000 picces of mail each season. i B Pity the poor postman at a time like this! Small town post- offices usually add more clerks at the holiday scason. In big cities additional mailmen like these are pressed into service. Uncle Sam does a good job of it —just so your cards and gifts will be delivered by Christmas morning! Plan Songs, Games To Combat Dullness \H' or ]lmn\ l)unu-" For t heavy nothir clear matter there' sooner. Let ch entert carols and recit Give a Chr dramatize a C can be way. Have a ca singing. Give a little party or outside grow S for simple refreshments Empire Want Aas Briug Results. shown | 7o 2 / t\g du wa Co& n:knc and they echo in hail-fellow Manl\}mn’s canyons and across ). between ships at sea. rossrmds set them to the the Spirit o?Christmas ignoble thoughts and dee: lOST WALLET BRINGS JOY AT CHRISTMAS They were very tired, Caleb North and his wife, Molly. They had had a hard, disappointing day in the city. And disaster swooped down on them just at the moment when they were happily picking out a Christmas present “good enough for David Now the old couple walked wear- ily up the tiny path leading to their house. It was quite dark, and a chill wind buffeted against them. “You get some wood in, Caleb,” aid Molly, trying to sound as cheer- ful as usual “and I'll hustle around and light up. We've got some cold potatoes to warm up and a little boiled ham. We'll have supper ready | soon.” They went busily about their tasks trying not to think of that dread- ful momient in the store when Caleb reached into his inside coat pocket and found his wallet missing. They had had to leave at once with frightened and mumbled excuses to a skeptical clerk. Molly found some | change in her little bag; just enough to pay their fares back to the vil-| lage where they lived. And they h:ld\ scarcely spoken on the way. But now, with steaming potatoes | on the table, a warm fire in the| D, | hard, a dish of Molly’s sweet pickles as a relish, the two old peérsons dared to face the facts of their adven- ture. “David’s home so quietly. from Caleb been long gone now,” away said and sent us money regular. I did hope to give him something nice to surprise him this Christ- mas.” “How do you suppose you lost that wallet, Caleb?” asked his wife. “I don't know, Molly,” answered the old man, “I don't know. And it was almost half of all we have in the bank. Perhaps: it was stolen They sat together and - shook their heads. Outside, the wandering snow flakes had increased to a soft and steady fall. The wind died. Three days before Christmas and David coming home after seven b § xpckoned a nice radio would be about the best thing we could buy him,” said Caleb. “When did he write he was a'roming “Christmas eve,” replied Molly. “Tomorrow I must go out and hnd somc greens and red berries. can trim the house up a bit to look pretty.” The next evening found Caleb and Molly trimming the big, country kitchen and other rooms with wreaths of green. “Looks real hand- some,” chirped Molly. “My, won't David be pleased!” They tried to forget about the money. “I'll stir up some cinnamon cake for him and make dozens of dough- nuts,” planned Molly. “And I &hdll have at least six mince pies . . “AND DON'T FORGET THE POPCORN BALLS!” shouted a | stove, sliced ham on a platter and man’s voice at the door, Before MOIY e emem e amm o T T T I I e I T e e O Y e T L “ “Two i | |and caleb could gasp out a word they found themselves encircles by a pair of strong arms, and hugged and kissed and held off for inspec- | tion, and kissed all over again. “Mother! Father! You precious pair!” David was a big man. He towered over both of them. He smiled down |at them and laughed through his tears “My son,” | one eyebrow. ] “Now,” said David, “no more of these fireworks. You just shove your hand, father, into my inside coat pocket . . . then report to me!* | “My godfrey!” exploded Caleb. | “Where in thunder did you find this?” He held up a worn brown wal- let long familiar to him “It was dropped in a store where |they sell radios,” said his soh. “I {was in there yesterday, and: the minute I saw it I recognized it\as yours. You've had the same one-for | 140 years. T just kept it and ran.the risk of being caught and called & thief? Mother did you see that story | down in the left-hand corner of the newspaper?” | Molly got her spectacles somehow, |but bless you! she was too excited to read. David did it for her. elderly persons ! who gave their names as Caleb and Molly North of Summertown; Mass.,, were in great troubie this afternoon over the loss of a pocketball. They came into a radio store to buy a radio, and " | having selected a handsome one. were about to pay for it when they discovered their money was gone . .. " Such a time as they had then, said Molly, and kissed s R ing.” Then after a stlence: “What say we set up the new radio dad?” Cyclemen Brings Message As usual, the man stood before the Christmas display in the florist shop window. Instead of passing, he entered the shop. He wished the cyclamen that was in the window. he told Myra Gordon, the owner. He was Jack Corwin, an actor, separated from his family, Myra had learned. The intense longing in his eyes each year as he saw the Christmas window touched Myra's heart “Don’t bother about any change,” offering a bill exceeding the value of the plant. “It's worth very- | thing to me.” “It's my wife's favorite flower,” he | explained, a catch in his voice. “T haven't seen her for three years. A misunderstanding separated us.| Each year your cyclamens have bid- den me go back. I can’t ignore their | And he was gone before Myra could answer. Joy filled Myra’s heat to thini that she had again selected a cyla- | men for her window. What They Want Maybe this wili help you pick out Christmas presents. Sales Management Magazine recently asked 2,000 people for their idea of the “best Christmas present.” Here are the answers: Type of Gift Wearing Apparel Jewelry . Household Goods | Autos and Accessories Don’t Ki Personal Accessories’ Sporting Goods .. Radios and Musical Tobacco Travel . Cameras Leather Goods Liguor ...... Cash .. Books and Magazine: Writing Materials Binoculars Tools and Machinery Boats . Pets Instruction Courses Miscellaneous. Art Supplies Times Chosen 9 Send copies of The Empire Chris message any longer. I'm taking this i mas edition to your friends outside. Christmas.” to her today. Merry Explanations that did not explain. Questions, answers, confusion and great happiness. “T found the pocketbook. I saw the article in the newspaper. I bought a radio for you, and here I am. What are you going to do about it?” Molly straightened her hair dnd flew about like a girl. She did everything possible in the way of a supper. Caleb could not get enough of looking at his son. “Seven years away,” he said nd home again.” “Home again,” replied David rather sobery. “And Christmas com- and he's been workin' so| | ] | | Wishing You A MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW i YEAR! % JUNEAU ‘. PAINT STOR L 118 SECOND ST. [ ! [ i ! | i [ i | | -« For Your Christma Stollen Fruit Cakes 4 s Table Plum Pudding : Assorted Cookies Pumpkin Pie We know of no better way of expressing our THANKS and APPRECIATION to our friends and patrons than the time- honored custom of “A Merry Christmas” PEERLESS BAKERY 4 HENRY MEIER N | In appreciation of Your Friendship and Patronage . . THE SHOE WE EXTEND YOU GREETINGS. J. G. OBERG, Proprietor Former building of Al-—T} et e ———————— e —— HOSPITAL he Shoe' Doctor | [ | | | | ! | ! | | | ! ] ! ! ! [} ' [} 1 ! ! i ! 'RECONCILIATION | BROUGHT BY FIRE | What a party! Lois Dorr. “the Spirit of Christmas,” stood by the | tree and called out the names from | the present Santa Claus handed her, | “Bddie Hines; Bob Hall; Maggie Snyder.” What happy children! | What a fat Santa! What a glorious Christmas—if only Jim—It was a shame to quarrel at Christmas time, but Jim was so stubborn! She brushed back the flowing veil that draped her head. “Mary Carr.” There was Jim in the corner. He needn't speak, then! “Barbara Carr.” He would certainly apologize befate she would speak. “Etta Sanders.” He mustn’t catch her staring - at him— Lois Darr whirled, he veil waved out behind her, and caught on the tree. In a second the flimsy sv.ufl was aflame. ‘Through the instant panic came Jim. He snuffed out the fire, and— disregarding the interest he was creating—took her in his arm. “Lois, you'll forgive me?” She nodded. “Let's go into the other room, Jim. Iis quiet, and— there's some lovely mistletoe.” Fd George, Nellie and Staff of the GEORGE M. SIMPKINS & CO. Extend CHRISTMAS GREETINGS and wish you Every Prosperity in the New Year! [ , GEORGE M. SIMPKINS & CO. The gay and happy season of feasting and merry-making — the time when peace and good will inhabit every heart — time when gifts gladden both donor and receptor — is here, and welcome. Our thoughts are pleasanily diffused with memories of past holidays — and in realization of this present joyous Yuletide — we extend to you the Greetings of the Season. A Prosperous Year 1940 JUNEAU WATER BT e T T T e b B e l CO.